The MP Called a ‘Pakistani Agent’ Now Leading India’s Parliamentary Friendship Group—Guess Who?

GUWAHATI: At a time when Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has mounted a fierce political offensive against Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi—going as far as branding him a “Pakistani agent”—Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has appointed Gogoi to lead one of India’s newly constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups, highlighting a striking contrast between domestic political rhetoric and institutional parliamentary trust.

Speaker Om Birla recently constituted Parliamentary Friendship Groups with more than 60 countries to widen India’s inter-parliamentary engagement with the world. Gaurav Gogoi has been selected to head the India–Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group, a role that places him among senior parliamentarians tasked with representing India’s legislative outreach abroad.

Apart from Gogoi, the Friendship Groups include leaders from across the political spectrum, such as Ravi Shankar Prasad, P. Chidambaram, Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tiwari, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O’Brien, Asaduddin Owaisi, Akhilesh Yadav, Supriya Sule, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Singh Thakur, Nishikant Dubey, Hema Malini, Baijayant Panda, Biplab Kumar Deb, Sudhanshu Trivedi, and several others. Groups have been formed with key countries and regions including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, Vietnam, Iran, and the European Union Parliament.

Parliamentary Diplomacy and Bipartisan Outreach

The initiative aims to allow Indian lawmakers to engage directly with their foreign counterparts, share legislative experiences, and build trust through regular dialogue. Beyond parliamentary procedures, the groups are expected to discuss trade, technology, social policy, culture, and global democratic challenges.

Speaker Om Birla has repeatedly underscored the role of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening India’s global standing. Under his stewardship, Parliament has taken a more proactive role in international engagement, projecting India as a confident and mature democracy willing to collaborate and listen.

The initiative also echoes the spirit of India’s post–Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent multi-party delegations abroad to convey India’s national security perspective. That move was widely seen as transcending partisan politics and reinforcing the idea that India speaks with one voice on matters of national interest.

The Political Storm in Assam

Gogoi’s appointment comes amid an intense political storm in Assam. On February 8, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the controversy surrounding Gogoi as a “sombre moment” for the state. He traced the issue back to a 2013–15 period, alleging that Gogoi led a group to Pakistan and citing a CID investigation registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Sarma framed the case as part of what he called a “new face of Pakistani hostile activities,” alleging the use of individuals, covert communication, and financial manipulation rather than conventional military threats. He also alleged links between Gogoi and Pakistani national Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, accusing Sheikh of promoting narratives against India and supporting Gogoi online before deleting posts.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah further escalated the political attack in Parliament, questioning Gogoi’s visits to Pakistan and asking whether he had ever visited the India-Pakistan border. Sarma subsequently alleged that Gogoi was “acting on behalf of Pakistan” and claimed he could leave India at any time due to his wife’s foreign citizenship.

Gogoi’s Defence and Counterattack

Breaking months of silence, Gogoi acknowledged that he had visited Pakistan over a decade ago, clarifying that the trip in 2013 was linked to his wife’s professional assignment on a South Asia climate change project. He stated that all aspects of the visit were cleared by the Indian government at the time and dismissed the allegations as “political theatre.”

“If the trip was suspect, why has no inquiry been launched in the last 11–12 years?” he asked, accusing the BJP of character assassination and diversion from governance failures. He also described the controversy as an “election mindset” narrative, timed to influence political perception ahead of elections.

Meanwhile, Sarma has doubled down on his claims, alleging proximity between Gogoi and the Pakistani establishment and promising to release findings from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on September 10.

Contradictory Signals from Institutions and Politics

The juxtaposition of Gogoi being accused as a “Pakistani agent” by the Assam Chief Minister while simultaneously being entrusted by the Lok Sabha Speaker to represent India in parliamentary diplomacy underscores a deeper political paradox.

Institutionally, the Lok Sabha Speaker’s selection of Gogoi reflects Parliament’s bipartisan framework, where foreign engagement roles are assigned based on parliamentary representation and democratic norms rather than state-level political allegations. The appointment suggests that at the national institutional level, Gogoi remains a legitimate and trusted parliamentary figure.

Politically, however, the Assam government’s aggressive narrative appears aligned with electoral strategy, seeking to frame Gogoi as a national security concern in a highly polarised political environment. The contrasting signals raise questions about whether the controversy is driven more by political calculus than by substantiated institutional findings.

Political Weaponisation Ahead of Elections

With the SIT report promised in September 2025 and the 2026 Assam Assembly elections approaching—though not yet formally announced—the Gogoi controversy has emerged as a central political battleground.

The ruling BJP has framed the issue as a matter of national security, while the Congress has dismissed it as a calculated attempt to weaponise foreign policy narratives for domestic political mobilisation.

Also Read: ‘Pakistani Agents’ Cannot Budge ‘New’ Assam: CM Sarma Takes Dig at Gaurav Gogoi